Frequency, Consequences, and Determinants of Suboptimal Care in the Initial Care Pathway of Child Physical Abuse

Frequency, Consequences, and Determinants of Suboptimal Care in the Initial Care Pathway of Child Physical Abuse: a Confidential Prospective Population-based Study in the French Western Region

Physical abuse is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the general child population. There are no data specific to the French child care and protection systems, and very few studies have examined the optimality of protective measures following a diagnosis of child physical abuse. the investigators propose to conduct a confidential, prospective, population-based study, in order to assess the frequency of suboptimal care, to describe the typology of suboptimal care, to assess the immediate consequences of suboptimal care on the health of the child, and to identify the determinants of suboptimal care.

Each year, 4 to 16% of minors are reported to be physically abused in high-incomes countries. Physical abuse is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the general child population. American and Canadian studies have shown that the diagnosis of child physical abuse is often delayed, putting children at risk of recurrence of abuse before diagnosis. There are no data specific to the French child care and protection systems, and very few studies have examined the optimality of protective measures following a diagnosis of child physical abuse. A better understanding of the typology of suboptimal care, its consequences and its determinants would allow to propose targeted action plans to optimize the care pathway and thus reduce the risk of recurrence and morbimortality. the investigators therefore propose to conduct a confidential, prospective, population-based study with an expert committee in the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal of Rennes, in order to assess the frequency of suboptimal care, to describe the typology of suboptimal care, to assess the immediate consequences of suboptimal care on the health of the child, and to identify the determinants of suboptimal care. This study will allow a multidisciplinary work (medical, social, educational and legal) around child physical abuse in order to set up, in a second time, interventional trials to reduce these delays and to build the first French regional registry of child physical abuse.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children under the age of six who are suspected victims of physical abuse that led to an alert from authorities: traumatic skin or mucosal injury, (burn, bruise, hematoma, wound, conjunctival hemorrhages), intraocular hemorrhages, hemotympanum, traumatic looking intracranial injury, fracture, traumatic intra-abdominal or intra-thoracic injury to hollow or solid organs, non-accidental drug intoxication. For feasibility reasons, children will be included on the occasion of an admission to pediatric unit, the emergency room, the intensive care unit or a consultation in a specialized unit for children at risk of abuse. Their primary care pathway will be analyzed. Children who died in pre-hospital care in a context of strongly suspected maltreatment will also be included.

Non-inclusion Criteria:

• Emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect, without apparent physical harm.
• Children who have not been the subject of an administrative or judicial report by the hospital team taking care of the child.

Exclusion Criteria:

Child with a traumatic injury without suspicion of abuse.